Induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of bcl-6 in mutu I cells treated with ethanolic extracts of the Chinese herbal supplement PC-SPES.

  • Authors:
    • T C Hsieh
    • C Ng
    • C C Chang
    • S S Chen
    • A Mittleman
    • J M Wu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 1, 1998     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.13.6.1199
  • Pages: 1199-1401
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Abstract

PC-SPES, an HPLC-standardized 8-herb dietary supplement prepared by proprietary extraction/mixing technologies, appears to have a number of health benefits when given to cancer patients. These include reduction of serum PSA (prostate specific antigen) in individuals diagnosed with advanced prostate carcinoma, and overall improvement of morbidity and immune status in terminal cancer cases. Since the expression of bcl-6 in T and B lymphocytes has been reported to be significantly down regulated by mitogens, we reason that the immune boosting effects of PC-SPES could involve the modulation of bcl-6 expression. Such a hypothesis was tested in the bcl-6 abundant Mutu I cells. Specifically, we investigated the effects of PC-SPES in regulating cell growth, induction of apoptosis, effecting changes in the retinoblastoma gene RB and the modulation of expression of the bcl-6. Herein we report that proliferation of Mutu I cells was inhibited by a 3-7 day incubation with ethanolic extracts of PC-SPES, with concurrent induction of apoptosis. In addition, a dose-dependent reduction of bcl-6 was observed, with no concomitant change in either the phosphorylated or the unphosphorylated forms of RB. These data raise the possibility that PC-SPES may enhance immune functions in vivo by down-regulating bcl-6 expression. Alternatively, decrease in bcl-6 could serve as a biomarker for testing the efficaciousness of PC-SPES in vivo.

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Dec 1998
Volume 13 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Hsieh T, Ng C, Chang C, Chen S, Mittleman A and Wu J: Induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of bcl-6 in mutu I cells treated with ethanolic extracts of the Chinese herbal supplement PC-SPES.. Int J Oncol 13: 1199-1401, 1998
APA
Hsieh, T., Ng, C., Chang, C., Chen, S., Mittleman, A., & Wu, J. (1998). Induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of bcl-6 in mutu I cells treated with ethanolic extracts of the Chinese herbal supplement PC-SPES.. International Journal of Oncology, 13, 1199-1401. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.13.6.1199
MLA
Hsieh, T., Ng, C., Chang, C., Chen, S., Mittleman, A., Wu, J."Induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of bcl-6 in mutu I cells treated with ethanolic extracts of the Chinese herbal supplement PC-SPES.". International Journal of Oncology 13.6 (1998): 1199-1401.
Chicago
Hsieh, T., Ng, C., Chang, C., Chen, S., Mittleman, A., Wu, J."Induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of bcl-6 in mutu I cells treated with ethanolic extracts of the Chinese herbal supplement PC-SPES.". International Journal of Oncology 13, no. 6 (1998): 1199-1401. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.13.6.1199